The fuel scarcity that has afflicted Abuja has taken a turn for the worse following the exhausting of stocks by some of the major marketers.

A correspondent of Transport & Business Express who went round parts of the Nigerian capital city reports that several filling stations which had been selling fuel since the scarcity started yesterday afternoon have now run out of stock.

“Many of them are now under lock and key and the queues of motorists have disappeared,” the correspondent said.

Citing Abuja – Suleja road, the correspondent said that “only Ummaratu opposite the Public Service Institute at Dutse Junction and NNPC at Kubwa Second Gate are still selling fuel. None of the major marketers, including Conoil Mobil, MRS and Oando, is selling.”

This is contrary to the assurances given by Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziani Alison-Madueke, that the ongoing strike embarked by the major marketers over subsidy payment disagreements with the Ministry of Finance would not lead to any fuel crisis. Speaking today at the inaugural meeting of the newly constituted Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mrs. Alison-Madueke said that the country has enough fuel in reserve to last 40 to 45 days.

*Photo: Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dieziani Alison-Madueke